Putin deputy sees Google hand in Egyptian revolt

A top Russian official last week said Google helped manipulate the Egyptian people into revolting.

"Look what they have done in Egypt, those highly placed managers of Google, what manipulations of the energy of the people took place there," Igor Sechin, deputy to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, told The Wall Street Journal.

That could indicate growing concern among Russian authorities about the role of the Internet in sowing dissent, according to Reuters.

Sechin did not elaborate on his concerns, but he might have been referring to the role Google executive Wael Ghonim played in encouraging protesters through Twitter.

Russia's Internet is remarkably open and includes searing criticism about the government, according to Reuters. Hardliners, however, would like to tighten up control.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday called for stricter control of the Internet, the report noted.